Jump to content

Speed Record of 90 GHz Set for Fluorescence


Guest_Jim_*

Recommended Posts

If photonics are ever going to replace electronics in computers, they will have to be able to operate at comparable speeds. Currently lasers dominate when it comes to create superfast pulses, but they are inefficient and too bulky to fit onto silicon chips. This is why researchers at Duke University have developed a new device using plasmonics that can create pulses of light turned on and off 90 billion times a second.

The device the researchers built to achieve this consists of a silver nanocube and a thin gold film, with quantum dots sandwiched between. When a laser shines on the nanocube, plasmons are created, which are the result of electrons and photons coupling together on the metal. The plasmons create an intense electromagnetic field between the nanocube and the gold film, and the quantum dots in the middle interact with it as well. This interaction causes the dots to efficient emit directional light, and it can be turned on and off at the impressive 90 GHz rate.

The next step the researchers intend to take include trying to make this into a single photon source, for use in quantum communications, and to integrate the technology into devices excited optically or electrically.

Source: Duke University



Back to original news post

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...